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Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Olympus TG-830 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Olympus TG-830 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 109 x 67 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Released April 2017
  • Newer Model is Sony A9 II
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Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-830 iHS (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the TG-830 iHS (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-830 iHS was unveiled 5 years prior to the A9 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-830 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the TG-830 iHS matches up vs the A9 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-830 iHS over the Sony A9

 TG-830 iHS A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus TG-830 iHS

 A9 TG-830 iHS 
ReleasedApril 2017January 2013Fresher by 52 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k460kSharper screen (+980k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A9

 TG-830 iHS A9 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-830 iHS provides physical dimensions of 109mm x 67mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the TG-830 iHS vs the A9.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-830 iHS and A9 is 91 and 65 respectively.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-830 iHS and A9.

To sum up, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-830 iHS using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A9 will render more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older TG-830 iHS will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-830 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony A9
35
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
83
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Street photography features
Sony A9 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Sports photography features
Sony A9 Sports photography features
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
86
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
67
weather proofing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.9)
73
better than average battery life (650 shots)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-830 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A9
45
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
weather proofing
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
85
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-830 iHS Vlogging details
Sony A9 Vlogging details
33
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
36
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
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Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A9
 Olympus TG-830 iHSSony Alpha A9
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-830 iHS Sony Alpha A9
Class Waterproof Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-01-08 2017-04-19
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 693
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 gr (0.47 pounds) 673 gr (1.48 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 67 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 92
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 300 shots 650 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $0 $4,498